Senior officials of Japan and the United States affirmed on Tuesday the importance of peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait where mainland China is increasing pressure on the self-ruled island.
The meeting in Tokyo between Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman came ahead of a trilateral meeting the following day that will include their South Korean counterpart Choi Jong-kun, with security issues concerning China and North Korea expected to be high on the agenda.
Mori and Sherman vowed to ensure trilateral coordination with South Korea in ridding North Korea of nuclear weapons, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.